Welcome! This is a Non-Political and a Non-Profit site (to include its authors and contributors) and does not subscribe to any revisionist organizations. This site is only to explore the combat role and history of the European Waffen-SS in World War II. Enlistment rolls show that a total of 950,000 men (German and foreigners) served in its ranks between 1940 and 1945. This blog contains a collection of real events and information on these volunteers for historical research and documentation.

5.ϟϟ-Panzerdivision „Wiking“

5.SS-Panzerdivision Wiking

5.SS-Panzerdivision Wiking

After the 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking had escaped the Cherkassy pocket, its remaining forces were transferred out of the Ukraine and assembled in Poland. On March 13 1944, the hopes of home leave after three years at the front were shattered. The entry on that date in the log read: Leave only for the Germanic volunteers and the wounded. Everything thus pointed toward commitment of the depleted division. On March 16 1944, although in the process of regrouping, the Wiking was sent to assist in the defence of Kovel in Eastern Poland. New weapons, above all heavy weapons, vehicles and manpower replacements had not yet arrived. SS-Gruppenführer Herbert Otto Gille led his men towards Kovel and began setting up a defensive perimeter, which was soon encircled by the Soviet Red Army. SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment Germania´s transport train were fired on by the Soviets and the train halted. Germania immedeiately attacked the enemy forces in order to reopen the rail line and enable the transport to continue. In the meantime, the transport train of Westland also closed up. On March 29 1944 the 4.Panzer-Armee was pressing for speed and ordered an immediate attack with the forces available at the time. The first unit to arrive Kovel was Wiking´s SS-Panzer-Regiment 5. Images: Panthers of 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking. Commons: Bundesarchive.